Hollywood, CA, October 23, 2019 – After a string of original releases this year, subversive independent rocker Mark Loughman [Emerson Loughman Palmer, Happy Mondays, Elbow] has brought his signature worldview to a deceptively dark reinterpretation of Electric Light Orchestra’s classic 1977 hit “Mr. Blue Sky” with a new cover and music video for “Mr. Blue Sky (No More)”. Forgoing the original’s Beatle-esque vocal arrangement for something decidedly more sinister sounding, Loughman delivers one of his hardest-hitting sets of lyrics yet as he trades the original’s cheery ode to optimism, clean air, and sunshine with a grim warning of environmental disaster and government conspiracy. The accompanying music video finds him peering skyward answers, while giving listeners a peek into what might be behind the curtain of mankind’s latest calamity.
Loughman’s take on the popular tune finds him slowing the tempo and updating the sonics for a more modern feel. The familiar drum, bass, and piano stabs are still in place, but the reduced speed trades the eagerness of the original for a more deliberate pace that brings out a richness in Loughman’s sonic choices. He compliments the punchy rhythm section with fuzzy, melodic guitar lines and lilting synthesizer melodies, giving the cheery melody a tragic underpinning that underlines the anger and despair in his lyrical message.
The centerpiece of the song is Loughman’s ominous-sounding vocals, drenched in slapback echo and dropped an octave for maximum Orwellian effectiveness. Where Jeff Lynne’s original words found joy and relief in the titular sunny day, Loughman sees its gradual destruction brought on by corporate and political interests. Loughman’s lyrics sarcastically references the source material, as he reckons with what’s been lost. “Even if you’re running down the avenue/You won’t be able to outrun these monstrosities,” he says, before making a desperate plea for awareness and engagement.
Despite not pulling any punches with his lyrical message, however, Loughman still sees hope on the horizon. “Ignorance is a choice in the age of the internet,” he said. “If people are willing to think for themselves and read between the lines though, we can change these things for the better.”
To learn more about Mark Loughman please visit: https://markloughman.com/
